Pope John, St. B’s long for victory
The first of six games Saturday at Gillette Stadium features two teams that have gone a combined 41 years without a Super Bowl victory. DIV. 8 SUPER BOWL
Pope John XXIII, the North champion, will take on Central champ St. Bernard’s in the Division 8 state final at 9 a.m.
The Bernardians last won a Super Bowl in 1997, while the Tigers make their first appearance since winning a Super Bowl in 1998.
Pope John, in its second season back since the program was shut down in 2013, has followed up last year’s 2-6 campaign by going 12-0.
First-year coach Paul Sobolewski, a 1998 Pope John grad, understands this will be the toughest contest yet for his unbeaten squad.
“They are clearly one of the best teams we will have faced this year,” Sobolewski said. “They’re well coached, they have an answer for everything.”
St. Bernard’s coach Tom Bingham feels similarly, saying: “Pope John is probably the most dynamic team that we will face all year.”
The Tigers feature a dual threat in the backfield: sophomore John SmithHowell, who rushed for 1,216 yards and 15 touchdowns on 100 carries, and sophomore Greg Smith, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound bulldozer who racked up 64 carries for 778 yards and 10 touchdowns this year.
“Smith-Howell is lightning in a bottle,” Bingham said. “And Smith is a very big kid going downhill. … Having both in the backfield at the same time is something we’re going to have to be prepared for.”
To stop the Tigers run game, the Bernardians (11-1) will lean on a pair of defensive linemen: sophomore Tyler Thibodeau (79 tackles) and senior Dazeen Figueroa (nine sacks).
The St. Bernard’s offense is led by junior running back Walter Morales Jr., who compiled 1,057 yards and 15 touchdowns on 95 carries this season.
Said Sobolewski: “We have to attack (Morales Jr.). If you let him dictate the play, he’s going to beat you.”
Pope John senior Jesus Rivera (six interceptions) and last year’s CCL Small defensive player of the year A’jan Nelson (116 tackles) will be essential to stopping the St. Bernard attack.
“Rivera is the anchor of our secondary,” Sobolewski said. “Nelson is like a coach on the field, he’s the one setting the defense making sure everyone is aligned correctly.”
St. Bernard’s outscored opponents 124-14 in three tournament games, while Pope John has beat the opposition 146-30 through four.
Said Sobolewski: “I think there will be points by both teams and whoever makes that crucial stop at the right moment will win it.”
“You have to rely on what got you here,” Bingham said. “We’re here for a reason and so is Pope John. … We’ll put our best shot out there and see where the chips fall.”